Fruit-picker.



F. B. LEONARD.

FRUIT PICKER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2.1916.

Patented Dec. 26,1916.

.17; I FEFIIIIIIILrIi/l:516,1!!!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII\ amwm GUM/mug citizen of the United States, residin FRANK n. LEONARD, or UTICA, NEW YORK.

FRUIT-Prensa.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

Application filed June 2, 1916. Serial No. 101,275.

To all wk am it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK B. LEONARD, at Utica, county of Oneida, State'of New ork, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fruit-Pickers, and declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which 1t pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to fruit pickers shown in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the following specification. and claims.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device simple in con struction and operation and which is capable of rapidly harvesting fruit and of conveying the same as .soon as plcked to the hand of the operator.

Another object is to provide for the ready adjustability of the device that it may be adapted to meet the requirements of different orchards.

One feature of the invention consists of a maw having one spring actuated member adapted toclose over the fruit,the spring controlling its action being inclosed within a tube forming one section of a jointed pole, the arrangement being such that the spring is protected against accidental derangement through contact with the trees.

Another feature of the invention consists in a conveying tube (formed in sections) secured to the spring actuated member of the maw, its discharging end being provided with means for engaging the hand of the operator.

Another feature of this invention consists in providing means for cuttin the stem when harvesting citrus or other ruits, the arrangement being such that the cutting knife' and co-acting parts may be readily removed when desired.

Another feature of the invention consists in means for readily adjusting the tension of the spring to adapt the device for the employment of the cutting blade as may be required.

Another feature of the invention consists in employing the conveying tube to actuate the operation of the swinging member of the maw, thereby simplifying the construction of the device and increasing its efficiency.

Other advantages and improvements will hereafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification: Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device with parts broken away, showing the jaws inopen position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the upper tube and connecting section, with portions broken away, showing the spring within the tube engaged with one arm of the bell-crank lever supporting the swinging member of the maw. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a cutter blade secured to a portion of the annular swinging jaw. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the part shown in the preceding figure. Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view through the swinging and stationary jaws, showing the cutter blade of the swinging member as it appears when entering a co-acting socket portion of the stationary member.

Referring now to the letters of reference placed upon the drawings, A, denotes a jointed pole; B, a tubular section mounted upon the upper end of the pole.

O, is an annular ring supported upon an angular bracket projecting from the upper end of the tubular section.

D, is a canvas or other fabric bridging the ring C.

E, is a bell-crank lever pivoted at C, in a lug projecting from the wall of the tubular section. One arm of the bell-crank lever projects through a slot in the wall of the tubular section and is engaged by a spring F, housed therein. The other arm of the bell-crank lever is fitted with an annular ring E, preferably integral therewith.

The tubular section B, is provided with elongated slots B, cut in its wall having inclined notches b, radiating therefrom to receive a transverse bolt G, secured to the end of the spring F.

Depending from the swinging jaw member is a tube H, of fabric formed in sections H, H H etc., and connected together by suitable engaging devices. Bridging the open end of the lower section of the tube H, is a strap I, to which is secured an auxiliary strap 1, adapted to overlap the palm of the operators hand,the strap being fitted with a buckle I for purposes of adjustment.

To adapt the device for cutting the stem of citrus or other like fruit, a detachable arc-shaped blade J, is provided adapted to be secured to the annular ring E, by suitable clips K, comprising co-acting parts K, K, adapted to embrace the ring and knife blade,-the respective parts being secured together by bolts K T0 the stationary jaw member C, is secured an arc shaped channel L, adapted to co-act with the knife-blade J, in severing the fruit stem.

Having indicated the several parts by reference letters, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood.

A suitable number of tube and pole sec tions having been respectively connected to provide a device of the required length, the strap 1, is buckled over the hand of the operator. The operator then holds the pole in one hand and depresses the tube with the other, thereby opening the jaws of the device, which are then allowed to close over the fruit to be picked,a slight pull in most cases effecting the detachment of the fruit from the stem, whereupon the fruit slides down the tube without danger of injury into the hand of the operator. In harvesting citrus fruits it is desirable .to cut the stem to avoid bleeding and when used for harvesting this character of fruit the removable cutting blade J, and its co-acting channel member L, are secured to their respective jaws as previously described.

To regulate the tension of the spring F, the transverse bolt Gr, connected with the lower end of the spring, may be lodged in any one of the several radial notches 6, opening into the slots B, upon manually shifting the bolt, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a device of the character described, a supporting rod, a tubular rod mounted on the upper end of the supporting rod,

jaw into engagement with the fixed jaw and v a flexible tube connected with the swinging jaw for conveying the fruit. V

3. Ina device of the character described, a supporting rod, a tubular rod mounted on the upper end of said supporting rod, a

jaw fixed to the tubular rod, a'swinging jaw pivoted to the tubular rod and having an arm projecting into the tubular rod, a springhoused within the tubular rod and connected with the arm for forcing the swinging jaw into engagement with the fixed jaw and means carried by said spring .for engagement with means carried by the tubular rod for adjusting the tension of i said spring.

4:. In a device of the character described,

a supporting rod, a tubular rod mounted on the upper endof said supporting rod, and provided with a fixed jaw, a swinging jaw, a spring housed within the tubular rod' for forcingithe swinging jaw into engagement withthe fixed jaw, and a flexible tube connected with the swinging jaw for conveying the fruit, said tube being adapted to be operated for forcing said swinging jaw away from engagement with said fixed jaw.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. LEONARD.

Witnesses:

W. R. LOVE, 7 F. M. LEONARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. i V 

